A few years ago, I arrived into Stromness aboard the Norwegian tall ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl. We docked about 10 a.m. and were due to leave next morning. I went on a monumental tare, interspersed with visits to many of the sites mentioned in this thread.

Next morning, I'm sitting bleary-eyed at breakfast.... The guy opposite me (Sottish and about my own , considerable, vintage) looks at me and says: "Jeez, I think I drank in very place in Stromness where you can get a drink, yesterday - except the British Legion Club. They wouldn't let me in, ' cos I'm not a member!". "There you go!" sez I " They let me in - and I'm not even British!"

As we sailed out to sea, I sang a long version of "Lady Franklin's Lament", having visited the house she stayed in to organise one of the searches for her husband.

Regards